| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Environmental Statistics
Sir Donald Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his policies for publishing environmental statistics. [16455]
Mr. Gummer: My Department publishes a wide range of environmental statistics every year, primarily in the annual "Digest of Environmental Statistics", the next edition of which is to be published in May. This is to be supplemented in 1996 by a new booklet giving key facts in graphical and tabular form, which we hope will be particularly useful for those wanting a pocket-sized summary and for schools. Key information from the digest is also to be made available through the Internet for the first time later this year.
A more limited set of statistical information was given in the "Sustainable Development Strategy", published in 1994. It is planned that this will be updated in 1997, five years on from the earth summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. In the meantime, the Government continue to publish annual White Papers reporting progress with the strategy. The next is due in March this year.
A new report, presenting a preliminary set of "Indicators of Sustainable Development for the United Kingdom" will also be published in March. This follows a commitment given in the "Sustainable Development Strategy" to publish a set of indicators within two years. The United Kingdom will, we believe, be one of the first countries in the world to publish such indicators. The
20 Feb 1996 : Column: 68
indicators will be the subject of consultation and development, and will be updated on a regular basis, probably every two years.
The new Environment Agency is to publish early in April 1996 a summary of the state of the environment in England and Wales. This will be made available through the Internet.
In addition to the more technical "Digest of Environmental Statistics", my Department also published, in 1992, the first edition of a compendium statistical report "The UK Environment", aimed at schools and colleges. This was successful and we had planned to update it in 1997. However, in view of the wide range of statistical publications planned in the next few years which I have described, I have decided that it would be better to devote our resources to producing a special edition of "UK Environment" in 1999 to mark the beginning of the new millennium. My Department will discuss with the environment agencies what contribution they might make to the preparation of this report.
Mr. Worthington:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals the Mental Welfare Commission has made to him for changing the conditions under which electro-convulsive therapy is administered. [15420]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton:
My right hon. Friend has received no such proposals from the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland.
Mr. Worthington:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for changes in the law about the control of electro-convulsive therapy treatment. [15421]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
[holding answer 19 February 1996]: My right hon. Friend has no immediate plans to change the law relating to electro-convulsive therapy. Consideration is, however, being given to the report of the Scottish Law Commission on incapable adults, which covers this subject.
Mr. Worthington:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received regarding the desirability of two doctors being required to authorise electro-convulsive therapy treatment. [15418]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
[holding answer 19 February 1996]: My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations from members of the public, local authorities and Members of Parliament that a second medical opinion should be obtained in any case where electro-convulsive therapy is proposed as part of a patient's treatment plan.
The report from the Scottish Law Commission on incapable adults, which we are presently considering, also bears on this subject.
Mr. Worthington:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what procedures are followed where a change is made to the conditions under which electro-convulsive therapy treatment is administered in Scottish hospitals. [15419]
20 Feb 1996 : Column: 69
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
[holding answer 19 February 1996]: In such circumstances, guidance would normally be issued by the Scottish Office.
Mrs. Roche:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to ensure that his Department identifies the size of its suppliers by the number of their employees. [15609]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton:
From 1 April 1996 the Scottish Office intends to record this information on its computer payment system. This facility is not available at present, but information is currently being recorded in preparation for the system becoming operational.
Mr. Steen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list each regulatory agency for which he is responsible indicating for each the percentage of business people on the board. [15734]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton:
The Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency and the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency are two of my right hon. Friend's executive agencies which carry out regulatory activities on his behalf. Neither agency has any non-executive directors.
Among the non-departmental public bodies for which my right hon. Friend is responsible, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, which becomes fully operational from 1 April 1996, has regulatory functions relating to environmental protection and Scottish Natural Heritage has powers in relation to the protection of Scotland's natural heritage. Of the 12 board members of SEPA, three are from the business sector and one from the farming sector. Of the 12 board members of SNH, four represent the farming sector and one manages a zoological park.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to close down the Scottish Schools Equipment and Research Centre. [16051]
Mr. Raymond S. Robertson:
None.
Mr. Wallace:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients in Scotland have contracted hepatitis C virus as a result of NHS blood or plasma transfusions. [16087]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton:
A UK-wide "look back" exercise was announced in January 1995 with a view to tracing, counselling and, where appropriate, treating those who may have been exposed to the hepatitis C virus through blood donated before the introduction of testing in September 1991. The best current estimate is that there are around 350 individuals in Scotland infected in this way. It is not possible to give a more precise figure until work on this complex exercise has been completed.
20 Feb 1996 : Column: 70
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of his Department's expenditure on newspapers and magazines in (a) 1993-94, (b) 1994-95 and (c) 1995-96, to date; and if he will list the publications purchased for the latest year for which information is available. [11412]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
[holding answer 30 Janaury 1996]: Details of the total cost of newspapers and magazines purchased by the Scottish Office library and information service are as follows:
Mr. Steen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list each regulatory body for which he is responsible indicating for each the percentage of business people on the board. [15733]
Mr. Hague:
One appointment is made to the board of the Environment Agency which does not assume executive functions until 1 April 1996. That person's occupation is shown as retired.
Mr. Raynsford:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the total number of dwellings completed by (a) local authorities, (b) housing associations, (c) development corporations and (d) other public authorities, in each local authority area in Wales in each year since 1979; [15070]
Mr. Gwilym Jones:
In view of the large number of statistics requested, I shall place a copy of the relevant tables in the Library of the House.
The Department purchaser or obtains free of charge a wide range of newspapers and periodical publications. A list of their titles has been placed in the Library of the House.
1993-94: £186,461
1994-95: £186,210
1995-96: £109,497 (to end January)
(2) if he will list the total number of dwellings started by (a) local authorities, (b) housing associations, (c) development corporations and (d) other public authorities, in each local authority area in Wales in each year since 1979. [15069]
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |